Before engaging in a detailed analysis of Fresno PD patrol activity as outlined in the research plan, we created this descriptive analysis to explore overall trends in the Fresno RIPA data. This helps us determine if our expected findings are likely to show up in the data and allows us to identify any trends we did not expect. We include basic tallies on each of the following:
In 2022, there were a total of 5,317 police stops made by Fresno PD. Of those stops, 5,028 were officer-initiated stops and 289 were calls for service.
In 2022, 94.6% of Fresno Police Department stops were officer initiated stops while only 5.4% of stops were calls for service.
In 2022, Fresno PD stopped a total of 5,060 people through officer-initiated stops.
Fresno PD mostly stops people they perceive Latinx during officer-initiated stops. Over half of people stopped during these encounters are Latinx. For reference, about 50.5% of Fresno City’s population is Latinx. As a comparison, 11.3% of people they stopped Fresno PD perceived as Black while the Fresno City’s population only comprises of 6.2% Black people.
Individuals aged 25-34 experienced the highest numbers of officer-initiated stops by Fresno PD in the year 2022.
In 2022, people identified as men (males) accounted for nearly 57% of officer-initiated stops by Fresno PD.
In all age groups except for 55-64 and 65 and older, Latinx individuals make up nearly 50% or more of the officer-initiated stops by Fresno PD. For reference, generally Latinx individuals make up 50.5% of the Fresno population. By comparison, Black individuals make up 6.2% of the Fresno population and SWANA/SA individuals 6.1%. In most age groups, Black individuals make up a higher percent of Fresno PD’s officer-initiated stops, beyond their general share of the Fresno population.
In 2022, White individuals within the age groups of 55-64 and 65 and older were the most frequently stopped during officer-initiated stops by Fresno PD. White individuals may make up a higher share of the population in these age groups in Fresno. Generally, White individuals make up 25.4% of the Fresno population.
In 2022, people perceived as men (males) were the most frequently stopped group across most age and race combinations. Latinx men ages 18-34, followed by Latinx women ages 25-34, had the highest number of stops by Fresno PD during officer-initiated stops.
In 2022, Latinx men ages 17 and under comprised more than 40% of people stopped under the age of 17. Similarly, Latinx men ages 18-24 made up about 37% of people stopped between the ages of 18-24.
The following explores the most common reasons for officer-initiated stops in 2022. Traffic violations are the overwhelming majority of officer-initiated stops that Fresno PD made in 2022, exceeding more than what is seen in other police jurisdictions in California. For this reason, we explore traffic stops more in depth as its own section.
The Fresno Police Department makes an overwhelming majority of their officer-initiated stops for traffic violations. In 2022, Over 99% of people stopped by Fresno PD officers were stopped due to a perceived traffic violation.
Reported Stop Reason | # of People Stopped | % of All People Stopped |
|---|---|---|
Traffic violation | 5,023 | 99.27% |
Reasonable suspicion | 21 | 0.42% |
Knowledge of outstanding arrest/wanted person | 9 | 0.18% |
Consensual encounter resulting in search | 4 | 0.08% |
Parole/probation/PRCS/ mandatory supervision | 3 | 0.06% |
This section dives deeper into officer-initiated traffic stops made by Fresno PD in 2022, given that traffic stops make up the overwhelming majority of all stops that Fresno PD made in that year.
People perceived as Black by Fresno PD are stopped in traffic at disproportionately high rates relative to the total Black population in Fresno city.
Within traffic stops of each perceived racial group, those who Fresno PD perceived as male are stopped in traffic at higher rates than those Fresno PD perceived as female across all BIPOC groups. The gender disparity in traffic stops is highest for individuals perceived SWANA/SA, with individuals perceived as male and SWANA/SA being stopped a much higher rate than individuals perceived as female and SWANA/SA.
Note that the graph below filters for perceived racial groups that had 10 or more people stopped for an officer-initiated traffic stop in 2022.
Fresno PD made close to 4,000 traffic stops of moving vehicles in 2022, which represented more than three-quarters of their total stops for traffic violations. Of the other quarter of vehicles that were stopped, 15% were stopped for equipment violations, while 8% were stopped for non-moving violations.
This analysis focuses the stop reasons specifically for equipment/non-moving traffic stops. Over 50% of the non-moving or equipment-related traffic stops made by Fresno PD in 2022 were initiated for vehicles with obstructed windows or improper registration.
Traffic Violation | # of Times Recorded | % of Total Equipment/Non-moving Traffic Stops |
|---|---|---|
Obstructed window/mirrors | 359 | 31.30% |
Unregistered vehicle | 292 | 25.46% |
License plates improperly displayed | 58 | 5.06% |
Unregistered vehicle in public parking facility | 57 | 4.97% |
Improper vehicle lighting | 54 | 4.71% |
Expired registration | 51 | 4.45% |
Inadequate mufflers | 40 | 3.49% |
Improper bicycle lighting | 39 | 3.40% |
License plate not illuminated | 24 | 2.09% |
Driving without headlights | 20 | 1.74% |
Within traffic stops that were made by Fresno PD, the most common cited reason is driving at an unsafe speed. However, people perceived as Black and Latinx are stopped in traffoc for a reason of ‘No vehicle registration’ at higher rates compared to other groups. This is noteworthy as vehicle registration, or lacktherof, does not advance public safety. Traffic stops made for these type of reasons may indicate that profiling is occurring.
Note that the graphs below filter out perceived racial groups where less than 10 people wree stopped in traffic by Fresno PD in 2022.
The Fresno Police Department only stopped 9 people in 2022 for driving without a license.
The table below shows the ten most common stop reasons for equipment traffic stops.
Traffic Violation | # of Times Recorded | % of Total Equipment Traffic Stops |
|---|---|---|
OPR VEH:WINDOW OBSTRUCTED | 331 | 44.67% |
FAIL MAINT VEH LITE EQUIP | 54 | 7.29% |
DISPLAY LIC PLATES WRONG | 54 | 7.29% |
INADEQUATE MUFFLERS | 39 | 5.26% |
BIKE HEADLIGHT/ETC VIOL | 39 | 5.26% |
EXPIRED TABS/FAIL DISPLAY | 27 | 3.64% |
NO REG:VEH/TRAILER/ETC | 26 | 3.51% |
FAIL MAINT LIC PLATE LAMP | 24 | 3.24% |
NO REG:VEH/TRAILER/ETC | 21 | 2.83% |
DRIVE WITHOUT LIGHTS:DARK | 20 | 2.70% |
There are heavy inconsistencies in Fresno PD’s classification of traffic stops as “non-moving.” Of the 10 most common offenses reported as reasons for non-moving traffic stops, six of them also appear in the 10 most common reasons for equipment-related stops, while two also appear in the list of most common reasons for moving stops.
Traffic Violation | # of Times Recorded | % of Total Non-moving Traffic Stops |
|---|---|---|
NO REG:VEH/TRAILER/ETC | 271 | 66.75% |
NO REG:VEH/TRAILER/ETC | 31 | 7.64% |
OPR VEH:WINDOW OBSTRUCTED | 28 | 6.90% |
EXPIRED TABS/FAIL DISPLAY | 24 | 5.91% |
UNLAW DIRCT DRV OPR/HWY | 8 | 1.97% |
USE CELLPH W/DRIV W/O HFD | 7 | 1.72% |
PED AGAINST NO WALK SIGN | 4 | 0.99% |
DISPLAY LIC PLATES WRONG | 4 | 0.99% |
SHO ON VEH/GIV PO FLS DOC | 3 | 0.74% |
UNREG CA BASED VEHICLE | 3 | 0.74% |
Of the 3,876 moving vehicles stopped for suspected traffic violations by Fresno PD in 2022, over three-quarters were stopped for speeding.
Traffic Violation | # of Times Recorded | % of Total Moving Traffic Stops |
|---|---|---|
UNSAFE SPEED:PREVAIL COND | 3,027 | 78.10% |
USE CELLPH W/DRIV W/O HFD | 159 | 4.10% |
NO HND HLD DEVICE W/DRIVE | 142 | 3.66% |
FAIL STOP LINE/ETC AT RED | 74 | 1.91% |
DRIVER FAIL OBEY SIGN/ETC | 69 | 1.78% |
FAIL STOP VEH:XWALK/ETC | 67 | 1.73% |
SEATBELT VIOLATION | 39 | 1.01% |
PED FAIL OBEY TRAFIC SIGN | 14 | 0.36% |
UNSAF TURN &/OR NO SIGNAL | 14 | 0.36% |
EXCEED SPEED ON HIGHWAY | 14 | 0.36% |
Across all three types of officer-initiated traffic stops (Equipment, Moving, Non-moving), a citation for infraction is the most common stop result, while a Warning verbal or written is within the top three most common stop results across all traffic stops.
The graph below shows, across all traffic stop types (moving, equipment, non-moving), what percentage of stops resulted in a citation for infraction, in-field cite and release, or warning verbal or written across each perceived race group.
Note that the graphs filter out perceived racial groups where less than 10 people were stopped in traffic in 2022.
Despite being stopped at higher rates than over perceived groups, people Fresno PD perceives as Latinx and Black are stopped in traffic resulting only in a warning verbal or written at higher rates than people perceived as White.
Offense Code | Offense Statute | Statute | Total | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
54106 | 22350 | UNSAFE SPEED:PREVAIL COND | 5,843 | 3,022 | 51.7 |
54571 | 26708(A)(1) | OPR VEH:WINDOW OBSTRUCTED | 5,843 | 414 | 7.1 |
54657 | 4000(A)(1) | NO REG:VEH/TRAILER/ETC | 5,843 | 352 | 6.0 |
54107 | 12500(A) | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 5,843 | 350 | 6.0 |
54566 | 23123(A) | USE CELLPH W/DRIV W/O HFD | 5,843 | 159 | 2.7 |
54655 | 23123.5(A) | NO HND HLD DEVICE W/DRIVE | 5,843 | 145 | 2.5 |
54101 | 16028(A) | FAIL PROVE FIN RSP:PO REQ | 5,843 | 128 | 2.2 |
People perceived as Latinx are stopped in traffic and given a citation as a result at the highest rates compared to all other groups. However, people perceived as Black are disproportionately stopped in traffic and given a citation relative to how many Black people live in Fresno city. Out of all people stopped in traffic and given a citation, 11.4% were people Fresno PD perceived as Black, yet Black people make up 6.2% of Fresno city’s total population.
The graph below gives more detail into traffic citations given as a result of a traffic stop. It shows the top 3 traffic citation results for perceived race.
Across all officer-initiated traffic stops, non-moving traffic stops have the highest rates of stops that result in a citation for driving without a license.
Traffic Violation Type | Statute | Total | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-moving | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 544 | 58 | 10.7 |
Equipment | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 921 | 58 | 6.3 |
Moving | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 4,378 | 240 | 5.5 |
People Fresno PD perceive as Latinx and Black are stopped in traffic and given a citation for driving without a license at higher rates than other groups. The percentage of people Fresno perceived as Black who were stopped and given a citation for driving without a license is disproportionately high relative to the percentage of Black people who live in Fresno city.
Race | Statute | Total | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Latinx | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 356 | 256 | 71.9 |
Black | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 356 | 44 | 12.4 |
White | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 356 | 40 | 11.2 |
Asian | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 356 | 9 | 2.5 |
SWANA/SA | DRIVE W/O LICENSE | 356 | 7 | 2.0 |
Stop Result Simple | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|
citation for infraction | 4,024 | 80.0 |
in field cite and release | 477 | 9.5 |
warning verbal or written | 370 | 7.4 |
Two or more results | 77 | 1.5 |
no action | 35 | 0.7 |
custodial arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant | 26 | 0.5 |
custodial arrest without warrant | 15 | 0.3 |
field interview card completed | 2 | 0.0 |
psychiatric hold | 2 | 0.0 |
Out of all people stopped during an officer-initiated stop, 99.7% of people stopped were indicated as having no instances of any use of force used towards them (5,043 total people) while 0.33% of people stopped were indicated in the data as having instances of use of force used against them (17 people). All officer-initiated incidents of use of force inflicted by Fresno PD in 2022 occurred during traffic stops.
reason | Traffic reason offense code | Statute | Total | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traffic violation | 54167 | FAIL STOP VEH:XWALK/ETC | 17 | 3 | 17.6 |
Traffic violation | 54099 | NO REG:VEH/TRAILER/ETC | 17 | 2 | 11.8 |
Traffic violation | 54330 | PARKING/ETC VIO:SPEC CIRC | 17 | 2 | 11.8 |
Traffic violation | 54657 | NO REG:VEH/TRAILER/ETC | 17 | 2 | 11.8 |
Traffic violation | 54098 | FAIL STOP LINE/ETC AT RED | 17 | 1 | 5.9 |
Traffic violation | 54141 | BIKE HEADLIGHT/ETC VIOL | 17 | 1 | 5.9 |
Traffic violation | 54178 | UNSAFE LANE CHANGE/ETC | 17 | 1 | 5.9 |
Traffic violation | 54211 | LICENSE PLATE DISPLAY VIO | 17 | 1 | 5.9 |
Traffic violation | 54218 | AIDE/ABET SPEED EXHIBITN | 17 | 1 | 5.9 |
Traffic violation | 54457 | UNLAW DIRCT DRV OPR/HWY | 17 | 1 | 5.9 |
Traffic violation | 54644 | DISPLAY LIC PLATES WRONG | 17 | 1 | 5.9 |
Traffic violation | 54655 | NO HND HLD DEVICE W/DRIVE | 17 | 1 | 5.9 |
Fresno PD disproportionately inflicted use of force towards people they perceived as Latinx men in 2022. Additionally, 18% of use of force incidents were towards people perceived as Asian despite Asian people only making up ~13% of Fresno’s total population.
Perceived Race | Perceived Gender | Rate |
|---|---|---|
Latinx | Male | 0.5 |
Asian | Male | 0.2 |
Latinx | Female | 0.1 |
White | Male | 0.1 |
SSWANA | Male | 0.1 |
White | Female | 0.1 |
Two officer-initiated stops by Fresno PD in 2022 resulted solely in a field interview card being completed. A total of four people were stopped and given FI cards during an officer-initiated stop. All four FI cards were given to people during traffic stops.
Every individual that Fresno PD stopped and completed FI cards for in 2022 was perceived by officers as Black or Latinx. Officers also perceived three of these individuals as male and one as female.
Fresno PD reported that only one of their stops in 2022 resulted in a person being referred to ICE. The one individual referred to ICE by Fresno PD in 2022 was stopped for a traffic violation.
The one individual referred to ICE by Fresno PD in 2022 was perceived by officers as a Latinx male.
In 2022, Fresno PD conducted 90 officer-initiated searches. Out of those 90 searches, 62 did not yield any contraband, or 68.9%, while only 28 searches yielded any contraband, or 31.1% of searches.
A total of 80 people were searched by Fresno PD in 2022. Of those 80 people searched by Fresno PD, 16 people searched were perceived as Black by officers, or 20% of all searches. More than half of all searches made by Fresno PD were of people perceived as Latinx.
Race | Total | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
Latinx | 80 | 42 | 52.5 |
White | 80 | 20 | 25.0 |
Black | 80 | 16 | 20.0 |
Asian | 80 | 2 | 2.5 |
Despite Fresno PD disproportionately stopping and searching people perceived as Latinx and Black, these groups also have the highest rates of searches that yield no contraband. In contrast, out of all the searches Fresno PD conducted towards people perceived as White, only 3 of those searches yielded no contraband. In other words, the majority of searches of people that yield contraband is of people perceived as White.
Race | Total | Count | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
Latinx | 23 | 13 | 56.5 |
Black | 23 | 7 | 30.4 |
White | 23 | 3 | 13.0 |
The following analyzes the total and percent of time Fresno PD spent on certain stops to explore potential waste in public resources. We focus on officer-initiated stops. Overall, Fresno PD spent about 74.1% of their stop time on officer-initiated stops though stops for calls for service on average took longer (56 minutes on average per call for service stop compared to 9 minutes on average for officer-initiated).
In 2022, Fresno PD spent nearly 98% of their stop time on stops originally made for traffic violations. While each of these stops took less time on average compared to other stop types, they made up the largest share of Fresno PD’s time.
The large majority of time spent on traffic stops is spent on stops only resulting in a citation for infraction. Nearly 73% of minutes Fresno PD spent on traffic stops were on stops resulting in a citation for infraction. On average, each of these stops only takes 8 minutes.
On average, Fresno PD spent slightly longer on traffic stops of Black and Latinx people (about 1 minute longer looking at the median time or quartile 3 time). Quartile 1 represents the 25th percentile of stop duration, meaning that 25% stops in that racial group took less than that specified time. Quartile 3 represents the 75th percentile of stop duration, meaning that 75% stops in that racial group took less than that specified time.
Stops of White individuals in Fresno only took 1 in 4 minutes of Fresno PD’s stop time on traffic violations.